Float for ropes

Abstract

A float assembly for buoying ropes, cables, pipelines, or any other type of line, completely surrounds the line to which it is attached. The assembly is formed from a plurality of preferably identical circumferentially adjacent float pieces. The pieces attach to one another along radial planes which contain semipermanent attachment means. As each chamfered circumferential piece is added to the last the line is gradually surrounded by the whole of all the pieces. This allows the float to be attached or removed to an existing long line without the need to thread the line through the float assembly. Bands or straps are used to permanently secure the individual float pieces in place upon the line. The line passage hole may be sized or shimmed so as to firmly secure the float assembly on the line.

I claim: 
     
       1. A float assembly for providing buoyant support to a line of indeterminate length comprising; a plurality of circumferentially adjacent pieces joined along adjacent substantially planar mating surfaces so as to form a volume of buoyant material surrounding a longitudinal hole suitable for passage of the line;   cooperating fastening means located on said planar mating surfaces to semipermanently fasten adjacent ones of said circumferentially adjacent pieces to each other, said cooperating fastening means comprising snap fit male and female type fasteners, whereby;   said volume of buoyant material forming said float assembly may be attached to a line so as to surround the line without the need to thread the line through said longitudinal hole, and   said volume of buoyant material forming said float assembly may be removed from the line without pulling an end of the line out of said longitudinal hole and without the use of tools.   
     
     
       2. The float assembly according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal hole is straight along the length of the line and is formed along the central edges of said planar mating surfaces. 
     
     
       3. The float assembly according to claim 2, wherein said chamfers are curved thus forming a round line passage hole. 
     
     
       4. The float assembly according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal hole has a diameter formed or shimmed slightly smaller than the outside diameter of the line to be buoyed so as to firmly secure the float to the line without the use of additional securement means. 
     
     
       5. The float assembly according to claim 1, wherein said volume of buoyant material forming said float assembly is made from a hollow metallic shell. 
     
     
       6. A float assembly for providing buoyant support to a line of indeterminate length comprising: a plurality of circumferentially adjacent pieces joined along adjacent substantially planar mating surfaces so as to form a volume of buoyant material surrounding a longitudinal hole suitable for passage of the line;   cooperating fastening means located on said pieces to semipermanently fasten adjacent ones of said circumferentially adjacent pieces to each other, said cooperating fastening means comprising: circumferential shallow grooves around the exterior surface of said pieces of laying in planes which are generally normal to the line; securing bands seated in said shallow grooves and passing entirely around said pieces, whereby said bands may be tightened around said pieces for semipermanently fastening adjacent ones of said circumferentially adjacent pieces to each other;   said volume of buoyant material forming said float assembly may be attached to a line so as to surround the line without the need to thread the line through said longitudinal hole; and   said volume of buoyant material forming said float assembly may be removed from the line without pulling an end of the line out of said longitudinal hole and without the use of tools.   
     
     
       7. The float assembly according to claim 1, wherein said volume of buoyant material forming said float assembly has an external surface which is shaped as a surface of revolution about the longitudinal axis of the line. 
     
     
       8. The float assembly according to claim 7, wherein said surface of revolution is a cylinder. 
     
     
       9. The float assembly according to claim 1, wherein said volume of buoyant material forming said float assembly is made from expanded foam material.